Royal Ascot: Goldikova to take on Canford Cliffs in Queen Anne Stakes

Goldikova has been booked for a return trip to the Queen Anne Stakes on June 14 at Royal Ascot, setting up a greatly anticipated meeting with top miler Canford Cliffs.

Freddie Head, Goldikova’s trainer, would not commit the mare to the Queen Anne after Goldikova won her 2011 debut in the Prix d’Ispahan on May 22, but Head said this past weekend that the Queen Anne would be the next stop for Goldikova, a winner of 14 Group or Grade 1 races – including the Breeders’ Cup Mile three years running – during her historic career.

Goldikova won the 2010 Queen Anne by a neck over Paco Boy, who was trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Richard Hughes, the same pair that will try and take her down with Canford Cliffs. Canford Cliffs, winner of the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes in his most recent start, and victorious in four straight races dating to 2010, actually is favored to win the Queen Anne among most English bookmakers.

Carton House still on target for Derby

Carlton House, the early betting favorite for the Epsom Derby, reportedly suffered a minor injury to his right front leg during training on Monday, but the issue is not expected to keep Carlton House from starting in Saturday’s race.

Carlton House’s connections had X-rays of a leg joint with some swelling taken, but nothing serious was found. Winner of the Dante Stakes, a significant Derby prep, Carlton House had completed his serious training for the Derby before Monday’s mishap, but with the race just days away, any kind of issue could pose a problem.